Nick Chappell

Part of the IT Leaders 100 - a list of the most influential IT leaders in the UK in 2023.

From winning Computing's own Rising Star of the Year - SME award in 2019, Nick is now an established IT leader in his own right. He has a track record of delivering successful outcomes in fast-paced and accelerated growth environments. He has worked in tech for more than 12 years, spanning the financial services, accountancy and management consultancy sectors.

How did you get into IT?

I grew up with a family background in IT but never expected it would be my career of choice. I spent many hours at a younger age stuck into Microsoft Frontpage making websites! Having decided not to pursue university, I eventually stepped into an IT service desk role many years ago and it has very much evolved from that point!

How do you ensure diversity is taken into account in your IT recruitment?

Harnessing diversity and inclusivity as a part of the recruitment strategy is a critical component for me in building a highly successful team. It starts with leveraging a broad range of recruitment channels to attract a range of candidates with different levels of experience and skills. As part of the recruitment process, involving multiple stakeholders and taking their feedback is incredibly useful in fairly assessing a candidates fit for a particular role. Ultimately, I believe in giving everybody a fair opportunity in demonstrating they are the best fit for a particular role.

Which technology are you currently most excited by?

I think AI is one of the most obvious topics, but specifically how AI can be used in the context of mitigating organisational risk or enhancing the end-user IT experience is an exciting prospect. For example, many tools across the cyber landscape have become inherently more intelligent and capable with machine learning.

I'd also say cloud integrations becoming more sophisticated to enhance productivity; enabling work and collaboration to become less frictionless across a hybrid cloud landscape.

What would an outsider find the most surprising part of your job?

I'd say the breadth of change and projects that I am involved with, and particularly as I have stepped through my career so far, much less of my time today is now about "fixing stuff" - it's become far more focused around people (both my team and my stakeholders) and process.

What's your secret talent?

I wouldn't label it a talent but I've often been told I can do a good impression(!); and also spent many of my younger years practicing magic such as sleight of hand and card tricks. Unfortunately that career didn't quite take off!

What makes you laugh?

My kids. I also enjoy going to live comedy when I can. Really bad, cheesy jokes are also a winner.